Electric iron with signaling means



A118. 1951 E. A. WEILAND 2,566,270

ELECTRIC IRON WITH SIGNALING MEANS Original Filed Sept. 4, 1948 I N VENTOR. Edward A I Vez'land BY yf Mf 7 ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 28, 1951 ELECTRIC IRON WITH SIGNALING MEANS Edward A.Weiland, Garfield Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of OhioOriginal application September 4, 1948, Serial No.

47,876. Divided and this application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,361

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric smoothing irons and more particularlyto a control therefor which will automatically indicate to the userwhether the iron is at the proper temperature for ironing the particularfabric for which the control is set. I

The invention is particularly useful when a plurality of different typesof fabrics are being ironed in succession. It is also useful ininforming the user when the iron has reached its proper temperature atthe beginning of any ironing operation.

The normal household ironing may consist of silks, rayons, cottons,wools, and linens. Controls have been provided which can be set so thatthe iron will be held at the proper temperature for ironing any of theforegoing fabrics. However, if an attempt is made to iron any particularfabric before the iron is hot enough futile effort is expended by theuser. If the control is set at the proper temperature for ironing oneparticular fabric and is changed to the proper temperature for ironinganother fabric some time will elapse before the iron temperature willreach the proper temperature corresponding to the new setting.

If the control is changed from a high temperature setting to a lowtemperature setting while the iron is hot, immediate use of the ironwill scorch the fabric having a lower ironing temperature.

Conversely, if the control is moved from a low temperature setting to ahigh temperature setting, immediate use of the iron will result inwasted effort by the user because the iron is not immediately hot enoughfor ironing the higher temperature fabric.

In either case, according to this invention, the

user is constantly informed as to whether or not the iron is at theproper temperature for ironing any particular fabric for which thecontrol is set.

More particularly according to this invention a single signallight isprovided which gives a signal when the iron is at too low a temperaturefor ironing the particular fabric for which the control is set. When thetemperature of the iron is at the proper temperature for which thecontrol is set the signal light will be illuminated in a distinctivemanner to indicate that the iron is at the proper temperature. However,if the control is moved from a high temperature setting to a lowertemperature setting while the iron is still hot the signal light will beilluminated in another distinctive manner to indicate to the user thatthe iron is too hot for ironing the fabric for which the control is set.

This application is a division of my copending application for U. S.letters Patent Serial No. 47,876, filed September 4, 1948, now PatentNo. 2,527,779.

According to this invention a single signal light is 50 connected incircuit with the main heater and a blinker switch that the light blinksrapidly when the sole plate temperature is too high or too low and iscontinuously energized when the sole plate temperature is correct.Specifically, the main heater, the light and blinker switch areconnected across the line in parallel circuit when the sole platetemperature is too low. As the sole plate temperature approaches thatfor which the control is set the blinker switch is shunted out ofcircuit and the light is continuously energized. When the sole platetemperature is too high as when the control is moved from a hightemperature setting to a lower one the main heater is open circuitedwhile the light is connected across the line in series with the blinkerswitch so that the light will blink rapidly.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds when taken in connection with the single figureof the accompanying drawing.

The reference numeral l0 represents the sole plate of a smoothing ironhaving an electric heater ll of well known construction embeddedtherein. A manually actuatable control shaft [8 is screw threaded into anut 19 mounted on a bracket 20 supported from the sole plate ill by apost 2| comprising a plurality of insulating washers 22 anchored to thesole plate [0 by a screw 23. A signal lamp 34 may be mounted on the ironat any point where it is visible, for example, on the handle.

Th post 2| carries the spring arms Hll, I02 and four additional springarms 60, BI and 62, 63. The spring arms 60, 6| carry cooperatingcontacts 64 and 65 and the spring arms 62, 63 carry cooperating contacts66 and 61. The shaft It extends through spring arms GI, 63 into contactwith the spring arm and with the collar 33 lying between the spring arms61, 63. An insulating button 68 lies between the spring arms GI, 62whereby the spring arm 62 will move upwardly with the spring arm 6 l.

The knob 25 carried by the bimetal 24 has a shoulder 69, an extension 59extending through the end of the spring arm Bl which contacts the lowersides of the spring arms GI, 63 respectively under certain conditions aswill be explained I hereinafter.

The conductor I06 connects the spring arm Ill directly to one side ofthe power line and. the

3 conductor I01 connects the spring arm I02 to the conductor 4|. Theconductor 40 connects the heater II to the spring arm 6I and the springarm 60 is connected to the other side of the power line by conductor 31.Conductor35 is connected to spring arm 63 and spring arm 62 is connectedto conductor H by a conductor 10. The conductor 13 is also connected tothe conductor H by the conductor 10.

Operation Suppose the control is moved from the position shown so as tomove the shaft I8 upwardly. The spring arm 60 will move upwardly as willthe button I causing the contacts I03, I04 and 64, 65 to close while thecontacts 66, 61 will remain open. I

The heater II will be energized as will the light 34 and the blinkerswitch 14, 15 etc. The heater II will be energized as follows: ConductorI06, spring arm IOI, contacts I03, I04, spring arm I02,

conductors I01, 4I, heater II, conductor 40,

spring arm 6|, contacts 65, 64, spring arm 60 and conductor 31. Thelight 34 and blinker switch will be energized as follows: Conductor I06,

spring arm I 0I, contacts I03, I04, spring arm I02,

' so that the shoulder 69 will engage the spring arm 6| and move itupwardly. This will cause the button 68 to move the spring arm 62upwardly and eventually close contacts 66, 61. The construction is suchthe contacts 66, 61 close just prior to the opening of contacts 64, 65and remain closed as the bimetal 24 oscillates back and forth tomaintain the sole plate temperature.

Closure of the contacts 66, 61 will energize the light 34 in thefollowing circuit: Conductor I06,

, spring IOI, contacts I03, I04, spring I02, conductor I01, 4| and 10,spring 62, contacts 66, 61, spring 63, conductor 36, resistance 38,light 34, and conductors 36, 31. The blinker heater 11 will be shuntedout of circuit.- The above circuit will remain closed whether thecontacts 64, 65 are open or closed and the light 34 will burn steadilyas long as the sole plate temperature remains at the control setting.

When the sole plate temperature is too high, as for example if thecontrol is moved from a high temperature setting to a lower one bothpairs of contacts 64, 65 and 66, 61 will be opened. The

- end of shaft I6 will bend spring 60 downwardly and positively opencontacts 64, 65 while the collar 33 will move away from spring 63 andpermit its end to engage the extension 59 of button 25. The arrangementis such that the collar 33 will engage spring 6| and how it suillcientlyto open contacts-66, 61.

The light 34 and blinker switch will then be.

connected in the same circuitas first described and the light 34 willblink until the extension 59 moves away from spring arm 63 and permitsthe contacts 66, 61 to reclose. The light 34 will then burn steadily aspreviously described as the bimetal 24 oscillates back and forth tomaintain the sole plate.l0 at the new temperature setting.

From the foregoing it can be seen that this invention provides a controlfor an electric smoothing iron together with single signal light givingdistinctive signals when the iron is below, at or above its settemperature whereby the User is continuously informed as to thetemperature condition of the iron with relation to the control setting.

While I have shown but a single embodiment of my invention it is to beunderstood that that embodiment is to be taken as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particularstructure shown and described but to include all equivalent variationsthereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An electric iron comprising; a sole plate; an electric heatertherefor; a signal light; switching means; thermostatic means andconductor wires connecting said heater, light and switching means insuch manner as to form a plurality of circuits; said switch means beingconnected in said circuits in a manner to activate said heater at amaximum and to activate said light so as to give a first type of visiblesignal in one position of said switching means, to activate said lightso as to give a second type of visible signal in a secend position ofsaid switching means while said heater is intermittently activated anddeactivated and to activate said light so as to give the first type ofvisible signal'in a third position of said switching means while saidheater is deactivated; said thermostatic means being so constructed andarranged relative to said switching means and to said sole plate tocontrol the flow of current through said circuits to continuouslyactivate said heater as long as the sole plate temperature is below apredetermined value and said switching means is in said first position,to intermittently activate said heater when the sole plate temperaturereaches said value so as to maintain the sole plate at said value and toactivate said light to give said second type of visible signal when saidheater is being intermittently activated and to deactivate said heaterwhen said switching means is in said third position. v

2. An electric iron comprising; a sole plate; an electric heatertherefor; a signal light; switch means; thermostatic means; a blinkerswitch and conductor vwires connecting said heater, light switch meansand blinker switch in such a manner as to form a plurality of circuits;said switching means being connected in said circuits in a manner toactivate said heater ata maximum and to activate said light and blinkerin series to give a blinking signal in one position of said switchingmeans, to activate said light contlnuously while said heater isintermittently activated and deactivated and to activate said light andblinker switch in series to give a blinking signal and continuouslydeactivate said heater in another position of said switching means; saidthermostatic means being so constructed and arranged relative to saidswitching means and to said sole plate that said switching means is insaid one position when the sole plate temperature is below apredetermined value, is in said other position when the sole platetemperature i above said value and operates to activate said heaterintermittently and said light continuously when the sole platetemperature is at said value.

3. An electric iron comprising; a sole plate; an electric heatertherefor; a signal light; ablinker switch; switchin means; thermostaticmeans;

and conductor wires connecting said heater, light, blinker switch andswitching means to a power line in such manner as to form a plurality ofcircuits; said switch means being connected in said circuits in a mannerto simultaneously activate said heater and said light and blinker switchin parallel circuits when a first condition cxism, to intermittentlyactivate said heater and continuously activate said light with saidblinker switch out of circuit when a second condition exists, and todeactivate said heater and to activate said light and blinker switchwhen a third condition exists; said thermostatic means being soconstructed and so positioned relative to said switching mean and tosaid sole plate as to actuate said switching means to control the flowof current through said circuits in such manner that said heater,blinker switch and light are activated as long as the sole platetemperature is below a sit value, that said heater is intermittentlyactivated to maintain the sole plate temperature at said set value whilesaid light is continuously activated with said blinker switch in shuntcircuit and that said heater is deactivated and said light and blinkerswitch activated when the sole plate temperature is above said setvalue.

4. An electric iron comprising; a sole plate; an electric heatertherefor; a signal light; a blinker switch; switching means forcontrollin the activation and deactivation of said heater, blinkerswitch and signal light; and thermostatic means for activating saidswitching means; said thermostatic means being positioned to beresponsive to sole plate temperature and to activate said switchin meansto activate and deactivate said heater to maintain said sole plate at apredetermined temperature value and to activate said light and blinkerswitch in series or to activate said light with said blinker switch outof circuit; said thermostatic means and said switching means being soconstructed and arranged that when the sole plate temperature is belowsaid value said light and blinker switch will be activated in seriescircuit, that when said thermostatic means is operating to activate anddeactivate said heater said light will be activated continuously withsaid blinker switch out of circuit and when the sole plate temperatureis above said value said light and blinker switch will be activated inseries circuit.

5. An electric iron comprising; a sole plate; a heater therefor; asignal light; a resistance; a blinker switch; switching means includingfirst and second pairs of coacting contacts; first conductors connectingsaid heater across a power line with said first contacts in circuit;second conductors connecting said light and resistance across the powerline with said second contacts in circuit; third conductors connectingsaid blinker switch in circuit across said second contacts; andthermostatic means responsive to sole plate temperature for actuatingsaid switching means for activating and deactivating said heater tomaintain said sole plate at a set temperature value; said thermostaticmeans and switching means being so constructed and arranged that whenthe sole plate temperature is below said value said first contacts willbe closed and said second contact open whereby said heater will beactive and said light, resistance and blinker switch will be connectedin series circuit across the line to cause said light to blink rapidlyby the action of said blinker switch, as the sole plate temperatureapproaches said value said second contacts will close prior to theopening of said first contacts whereby as said thermostat operates toopen and close said first contacts said light will be on steadily andwhen the sole plate temperature is above said value both pairs ofcontacts will be open to con nect said light across the line in seriescircuit with said blinker switch to thereby cause said light to blinkrapidly by the action of said blinker switch.

6. An electric iron according to claim 5 including a manually actuatablecontrol coacting with said switching means and thermostatic means forvarying the set temperature at which said sole plate operates; thearrangement being such that when said control is moved from a highsetting to a lower one both pairs of contacts will be opened and whensaid control is moved from a lower setting to a higher one said firstcontacts will be closed and said second contacts opened whereby ineither case said light will blink rapidly until the sole platetemperature reaches the new setting.

EDWARD A. WEILAND.

No reference cited.

